The St. Louis Cardinals’ decision to part ways with several established stars during the offseason has turned out to be a surprisingly successful move for the franchise.
Although the Cardinals owned the same 50-45 record through 95 games last season, everything unraveled shortly after the All-Star break, prompting the organization to reshape its roster. That reset continued over the winter, with St. Louis trading away Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado.
Moving on from those veteran stars opened the door for the club’s younger core to take on larger roles, and few players have benefited more than Jordan Walker. After struggling to a .215 batting average with six home runs and 41 RBIs last season, the 24-year-old outfielder has completely transformed his game in 2026.
Walker has turned his career around with a breakout campaign
He is slashing .294/.354/.532 while establishing new career highs with 22 home runs and 74 RBIs in just 93 games. His remarkable season earned him his first career All-Star selection, and he added another milestone by capturing the Home Run Derby title.
Earlier this season, the Cardinals committed to their future by signing rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt to a nine-figure contract extension. Given Walker’s emergence as one of the team’s cornerstone players, it will be fascinating to see whether St. Louis pursues a long-term extension for him as well.
“What a difference a year makes. In July 2025, Walker was on a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield, working with now Major League assistant hitting coach Casey Chenoweth on rebuilding his swing,” MLB.com’s Josh Jacobs wrote. “Now, Walker is the 2026 Home Run Derby champion, an All-Star and has emerged as one of the game’s brightest young players.
“The struggles were real. Walker finished with a negative WAR in back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, and posted an above-30% strikeout rate with an OPS south of .600 in ‘25. This makes Walker’s comeback story all the more special, and puts into perspective how massive of a development this is for St. Louis. Simply stabilizing and getting back on track would have been a win for Walker this season, but to establish himself as a star is the best possible outcome.”
The Cardinals have exceeded expectations by remaining firmly in the National League Wild Card race. Heading into the second half of the season, they sit just one game outside a playoff spot, with Walker playing a major role in their surprising success. Considering his breakout performance and growing importance to the organization, St. Louis has every reason to explore a long-term contract that keeps him at the center of its future.